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G. H; TAYLOR.

MOVEMENT CURE.

Npzesza Patented Aug. 29, 1882.

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UNITED STATES ERICE.

d ATENT MOVEMENT CURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentl No. 263,625, dated August 29, 1882.

Application filed June 19, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. TAYLOR, M. D., of the city of New York,`in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Apparatus for Removing from the Pelvis the Weight of the Abdominal Contents, of which the following is a specification.

The objectof my invention is to remove from the lower part of the pelvic cavity of the body the pressure due to the weight of the superposed viscera by changing the position of the i body, so that the effect of gravitation willcause the abdominal and pelvic contents to move forward into the upper part of theabdominal cavity, whereby the pelvis is relievedof the constant pressure upon it and the evil consequences of such continued pressure are removed.

Myinvention consists essentiallyin the combination, in a couch,of a top surface comprising a xed portion, upon which the patient may lie face downward, with the weight of the upper part of the body resting upon the elbows, and a movable portion, which serves as a support for the thighs, and devices for imparting to said movable portion arising and fallingr motion. The movable portion, in rising, raises the hips, so that the part ofthe body above the hips will incline downward, andtbus i cause the abdominal contents and the organs pressing upon the pelvis to move or gravitate toward the head and into the Lipper andlarger part of the abdominal cavity, thereby relieving the pelvis of the superposed weight and restoring the physico-mechanical supports of the pelvic contents anda natural and healthful circulation. The rising and falling thighsupport may be formed by hinging the after part of the couch at the back end, so that the front end of said after part mayswing up and down. After the patient has been treated as above described he may lie upon the back, with the y upper part of the body resting upon the hinged part ofthe couch; and I also combine with said hinged part a movable head-rest, which may be secured in proper position to support the head when the person liesupon the back.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus, and Fig. 2 represents a plan thereof.

is of suitable length to accommodate a person in a recumbent position. The part B, which extends for rather more than half the length of the couch, is fixed rigidly to the frameA, and is covered or upholstered in any desirable manner. The remaining part, B', is hinged at Vits rear end to the rear eudof the frame-work A by hinges a or otherwise, and its front end has a rising and. falling motion on the hinges a as a center. When let down the part B rests upon the frame A and forms a continuation of the fixed part B, and the hinges a enable it to be raised to any angle desired.

C designatesarock-shaft,which is journaled in the frame A and has a forwardly-extendin g arm, Cf, connected by a link, (J2, with the free end of the part B ofthe top. Upon the rockshaft C is secured a second arm, D, which extends rearward and is furnished with a treadle, D', on which the foot of the operator may bear, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. l.

n using my apparatus the patient lies upon` the couch face downward, with the weight of the upper part of the body resting upon the elbows and supported on the fixed part B of the top. The operator then seizes the limbs of the patient, who'may be covered with a blanket or ordinary dress, and at the same instant presses down on the treadle D. This causes the hinged part B to rise, and, acting upon the thighs, to raise the body into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and the body may be thus raised more or less, as may be desired. This causes the axis of the trunk to leave a horizontal position and to incline downward from the thighs toward the head. The thigh-support B is then allowed to fall, and again raised and lowered, and the degree of elevation and the rapidity of movement may be determined by the condition of the patient and the judgment of the operator. As the thighs are lifted they are also made to recede, and the whole body with them, except the points of bearingof the elbows on the fixed top B of the couch; and as this is an important part of the treatment the operator should see that neither the relation of the elbows to the xed part B nor the thighs to the part B is changed during the rising and falling motion of the body.

My apparatus may also be used in another Way, if desired.

E designates a head-rest hinged at the end of the part B', and whichis adapted to be swung up into line therewith and secured by a button, b, or other means. When this is done the patient maylie on his back, with the head on the head-rest andthe hands clasped over the head, while the legs are drawn up so that the feet rest on the fixed portion B and the trunk rests on the hinged part B. The operator now presses on the treadle, and the part Bl raises the trunk upward at an angle, while the feet rest firmly on the part B. While the pelvis is the highest and the diaphragm lowest the operator presses upon the abdomen,begin ning at the pelvis, and continuing lthe pressure by a gentle stroke toward the diaphragm.

As before, the contents ofthe whole cavity of the trunk are caused to gravitate toward the diaphragm instead of the pelvis. This effect is greatly increased, to the extent of moving the contents of the pelvis, byv the action of the hand of the operator.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a conch, the combination of a top or resting surface, comprising a fixed portion, upon which the patient may lie face downward, with the weight of the upper part of the body resting upon the elbows, and a movable por` tion, Which serves as a support for the thighs, and devices for imparting a reciprocating rising and falling motion to said thigh-support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the frame A, theflxed portion B, the hinged top portion, B', the rockshaft C, and arm C and link C2, and the arm D, substantially as described.

3. In a couch, the combination of the fixed portion B, the hinged portion B', the head-rest E, hinged to the portion B', and devices for giving the portion B a rising and falling motion, substantially as described. I

GEO. H. TAYLOR, M. D.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNEs, En. L. MoRAN. 

